Page:Poems Davidson.djvu/313

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BIOGRAPHY OF LUCRETIA MARIA DAVIDSON.
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On the second day, Mrs. Willard sent for Dr. Robbins; he said-I must be bled, and take an emetic; this was sad; but, O mamma, I could not speak or breathe without pain." There are further details of pains, remedies, and consequent exhaustion; and yet this fragile and precious creature was permitted by her physician and friends, kind and watchful friends too, to proceed in her suicidal preparations for examination! There was nothing uncommon in this injudiciousness. Such violations of the laws of our physical nature are every day committed by persons in other respects the wisest and the best; and our poor little martyr may not have suffered in vain, if her experience awakens attention to the subject.

In the letter from which we have quoted above, and which is filled with expressions of love for the dear ones at home, she continues: "Tell Morris I will answer his letter in full next quarter; but now I fear I am doing wrong, for I am yet quite feeble; and when I get stronger, I shall be very avaricious of my time, in order to prepare for the coming week.

"We must study morning, noon, and night. I shall rise between two and four now every morning, till the dreaded day is past. I rose the other night at twelve, but was ordered back to bed again. You see, mamma, I shall have a chance to become an early riser here." "Had I not written you that I was coming home, I think I should not have seen you this winter. All my friends think I had better remain here, as the journey will be long and cold; but O! there is that at the journey's end which would tempt me through the wilds of